Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday remanded to prison a 59-year-old man who allegedly had carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl.

Motilall Brijbhukan, a poultry farmer, of Lot 70 Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara was not required to plead to the indictable charge of carnal knowledge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Motilall Brijbhukan

It is alleged that on February 4 this year at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara, Brijbhukan had carnal knowledge of the teenager.

Brijbhukan’s lawyer Hukumchand applied for bail for his client on the grounds that he was a prominent member of his community and that he had an unblemished record with the court. He said a charge of rape was easy to make but hard to prove. He said that if his client was granted bail he would return to court and there is no likelihood of his client interfering with the teenager. Hukumchand also said that his client was a diabetic and suffers from high blood pressure.

The lawyer stated that on the day in question his client left his home and went straight to the Ministry of Agriculture and then he returned home. He further stated that the court should not take away his client’s liberty. However, Prosecutor Denise Griffith objected to bail on the grounds that the accused interfere with the teenager. She also stated that the offence was prevalent and added that the incident did not take place at Brijbhukan’s home.

Hukumchand then claimed that the virtual complainant had been caught stealing a tray of 30 eggs from his client and that she was known to the welfare service and the police. However, the magistrate ordered that Brijbhukan be remanded to prison and that he appear again in court on February 11.